Kerrin McEvoy is relishing the prospect of partnering the horse to beat in the $3 million Caulfield Cup.
McEvoy has already won a Caulfield Cup but excitement is building for the jockey ahead of his ride on Lucia Valentina in Saturday’s race.
“I’ve never been into the Caulfield Cup on the back of a favourite,” McEvoy said.
McEvoy won the Caulfield Cup on All The Good for Godolphin in 2008 when that horse ran as one of the outsiders.
The Sydney-based McEvoy has recently joined the freelance ranks, leaving Godolphin as a retained rider. He has been one of spring’s in-form jockeys heading into Saturday.
His Turnbull Stakes win on Lucia Valentina was followed by a winning treble on Caulfield Guineas day.
“It’s the same as any sportsman. You need to be winning and it definitely helps the confidence going into these big meetings,” McEvoy said.
“I couldn’t be happier with where I’m at. It definitely helps going into Saturday.”
Lucia Valentina continued her preparation with a solo workout on Tuesday morning on the Caulfield course proper with trainer Kris Lees’ travelling foreman Mal Ollerton in the saddle.
She had a more serious piece of work on Saturday morning on the course proper with McEvoy aboard and he was suitably impressed, convinced the mare has progressed since her Turnbull win.
“She looks great and she felt great,” he said.